Luck of the Draw Read online

  Garrett cleared his throat. “I think that’s a stretch.”

  Sid had known he would jump to her defense even as he knew Garrett’s rational mind would be arguing that she was the most likely to have picked it up.

  “If she was running scared that night, she might have seen an opportunity to arm herself,” Sid said. “The question is what was she running from back then? The same thing she was running from when she killed a man, wrecked the car and ended up in the hospital here? There seems to be a pattern and damn it, Garrett, you are the common denominator.”

  * * *

  GARRETT PULLED OFF his hat to rake his hand through his hair in frustration. This news had come as a shock. He couldn’t deny it. What if she had picked up the gun that night? What did that say about her? He’d helped her get away. She’d played him for a sucker in so many ways. Was he really going to the isolated, empty guest ranch with this woman?

  “If she was involved in the robbery, when it went bad...” Sid didn’t need to finish his sentence. They both knew where Joslyn had gone to hide out for a few months to lay low before disappearing again. “I’m assuming you never saw her with the gun that night or during the time you were...close.”

  Garrett couldn’t believe Sid actually thought Joslyn might be involved in the robbery. That had never crossed his mind and he wished it hadn’t now. “I never saw the gun or her with it while she was living with me.” But that didn’t mean that she hadn’t taken it. She said that she’d moved most of her things to his place, but he didn’t know that for a fact since she’d kept her apartment. An apartment he’d never seen. Maybe the gun was only one of the reasons she hadn’t wanted him to help her move that day.

  “Maybe you saw the gun but don’t remember. She told you she was an undercover cop. If that was true, then she’d have had a weapon.”

  Garrett sighed and looked down the hallway toward her hospital room door. “So what are you saying? That you really believe she was a cohort with the Rutledges?”

  The sheriff frowned. “I find that hard to believe too, but I’m not ruling it out at this point. But I do think she has to be the one with the gun for it turn up now. It makes sense if she picked up the gun at the convenience store that night. She might have had it with her since we haven’t been able to tie the dead man to the weapon.”

  Garrett couldn’t believe this. “If true, then what was her motive?”

  “You’d have to ask her that.”

  “I’ll add it to my list,” he said with a curse.

  “If I’m right, she is a dangerous woman and I don’t think you should be up there at the guest ranch with her.”

  “But then again, this is all only speculation.”

  “Except for the fact that it is the same gun, which ties the two shootings together and ties you and Joslyn together.”

  Garrett knew what else tied them together besides a gun and two crimes. “So what are you going to do about it, besides warn me?”

  Sid looked away and he knew that the sheriff could try to convince the judge to lock her up and deny Garrett’s request. “Sid, let me take her to the guest ranch. Let me try to get to the truth.”

  The sheriff was right about the night of the convenience store robbery. There had been confusion. Joslyn could have picked up the gun.

  But then so could the Rutledge boy.

  “I’m not changing my mind.” He was committed and willing to see this through as long as it took. No matter what.

  The sheriff nodded. “I don’t like it, but you know that if you get into any trouble—”

  “You’ll be the first person I call,” Garrett said.

  “I guess I don’t have to warn you again about her.”

  He let out a bitter laugh as they walked back toward her hospital room. “Not hardly.”

  The sheriff sighed. “Then I have to ask, why are you really doing this?”

  Garrett thought about giving him a pat answer. He was a nice guy. She was a woman in trouble. Instead he considered his motives for a moment. “You can bet she’s up to her neck in something. I don’t know about you, but I want to know what.”

  “How do you plan to find out?” Sid asked, sounding worried.

  “Patience.” He laughed. “If she’s the one who’d had the map to the guest ranch and knew I would be there, then there was a reason she was coming up to see me.”

  “You think she has her own agenda?”

  “It’s definitely crossed my mind.” He met the sheriff’s gaze. “And Dorothea is convinced the woman is up to something.”

  Sid smiled at that. “Dorothea has a lot of...suspicions and superstitions. It’s what makes her so unique. But I’m a lawman. I deal in evidence. You’re that positive this woman is the same one you knew when you were in law school?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “You really think she’s going to tell you the truth?”

  He laughed again. “I doubt she could tell the truth if her life depended on it.”

  “Then how do you expect—” The hospital room door opened and the doctor exited following directly behind him by the woman Garrett had known as Joslyn Charles. She carried the bag of extra clothing he’d purchased for her.

  She stepped out of the room and seeing them, did a model turn. The clothes fit perfectly—just as he’d known they would. She’d chosen the coral dress, the one he’d bought because that shade of peach had been her favorite.

  “Mr. Sterling was kind enough to bring me something to wear,” she said as she looked at the sheriff.

  Sid nodded and then looked at Garrett as if to say, “I hope to hell you know what you’re doing, Mr. Sterling.”

  “I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay his kindness,” she was saying.

  He just bet. “You should call me Garrett.”

  “Garrett,” she repeated as if the name was new on her tongue. Oh, that amazing tongue of hers. “Thank you.” Her gaze lit on his for just long enough to send a jolt to his heart and lower. This woman had knocked him to his knees not all that long ago. This time she might very well kill him.

  “And why don’t I call you...” He pretended to give it some thought. He could feel the sheriff’s gaze on him. “How about...Joslyn?”

  She seemed to consider the name for a moment before she gave him a tight smile. “Why not?”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  ALISTAIR REALIZED HE was feeling his age. He closed his eyes for a moment as he listened to the man on the phone. For forty-eight hours, Monica had been missing. But now they knew where she was. She hadn’t remembered who’d murdered her father and stepmother. On the contrary, she’d lost more of her memory.

  He opened his eyes, took down the information and called the sheriff’s department in Whitefish, Montana. Over the years Alistair had posted bail, bribed officials and thrown around what political clout he could to get Monica out of trouble.

  He’d lived up to his promise to her father. He’d been paid handsomely for the job. But in days Monica would be turning thirty and on her own. For the past eighteen months, things had been quiet. He’d actually thought that she was adjusting. He’d stopped worrying about her not because he knew where she was, but because he didn’t get one of these calls that she was in trouble again.

  And now this.

  The sheriff was out. He spoke to Undersheriff Ward Farnsworth before calling the hospital and being put through to a Dr. Bullock. After all that, he’d called both Monica’s doctor and lawyer. They’d come right over since they only had one client and patient—Monica.

  “If what you’re telling me is true, then Monica needs medical attention,” Dr. Neal Foster argued as he poured himself a drink from Alistair’s good stuff.

  “She received medical attention at the hospital in Montana and was discharged. She was arrested for shooting a man and was arraigned today. Apparently, th
e judge remanded her over to a local man, Garrett Sterling, until the investigation is over. They don’t know yet if it will go to trial because apparently it was self-defense. She was in the hospital after getting a concussion in a car accident following the shooting and has lost her memory.”

  Neal shook his head. “She needs real medical attention, not the kind she received back in Montana.” He took a sip of his drink, meeting Alistair’s gaze over the rim of the crystal glass. “You asked for my professional opinion. Well, you’re going to get it. This is a cry for help.”

  He wished he hadn’t asked. But he had to admit, this time was much more serious. He was scared for Monica. According to the undersheriff, someone had tried to kill her. He related this to the two men.

  “This girl has been nothing but trouble.” Her family lawyer spoke up after telling Neal to make him a drink while he was at it. Attorney Benjamin Purdy lolled on the sofa, looking around at Alistair’s home as if he’d never seen it before. Like Neal, the lawyer was also on retainer and had been for twenty-five years. That too was about to change though with Monica’s thirtieth birthday—unless she kept him on, which was doubtful.

  Or unless Neal was right and Monica was a danger to herself.

  Alistair had to admit that Monica had been a handful. She’d been willful and rebellious as far back as he could remember. He’d spoiled her, there was also no doubt about that. Poor little rich girl. The title fit.

  “We’ve all profited off this trouble for years,” he pointed out, forcing the other two to fall silent for a moment. The gravy train was about to run out for all of them in a matter of days, unless Neal had his way.

  “What are you suggesting?” Alistair asked. “Committing her?”

  “For her own good,” Neal said and Ben jumped in a little too quickly, making Alistair aware that the two had talked about this prior to arriving. “Who knows how she stumbled across this man who tried to kill her. She’s never been careful about the people she’s associated with, as you well know.”

  “This wouldn’t have anything to do with her upcoming birthday, would it?” Alistair asked with a sigh, unable to hide his suspicion. Both looked offended. If she was committed, then they would all still be in business, so to speak, himself included.

  “The woman needs help,” Neal argued. “Another memory loss?” He shook his head. “I’m sincerely worried about her or I wouldn’t suggest this. I know it seems drastic, but I need to run some tests on her. You know she won’t come in on her own. These memory losses could be indicative of DID.”

  “DID?” Alistair asked skeptically.

  “Dissociative identity disorder. Formerly known as split personality.”

  He laughed, shaking his head as he made himself a drink. “I wonder which Monica will inherit then.”

  “Laugh if you will but I brought you some information on DID.” He dropped a sheaf of papers on the coffee table. “I suggest you take a look. It’s rare, but a history of severe emotional trauma is a key feature of DID. Also the early loss of a parent and considering what we know Monica witnessed the night her father and stepmother were murdered... I think you’re going to see why I’m concerned. We care about Monica and want the best for her.”

  Alistair took a sip of his drink. Monica had almost been killed and now had no memory of it. He could see a pattern, even though he didn’t want to.

  “This all goes back to seeing her father and stepmother killed,” Neal said. “Maybe if she could remember...”

  Alistair thought of the one time Neal had tried hypnotism on her. She’d been ten, not legal age, so he’d had to give his permission. It had been a fiasco and he’d had to put an end to it when she became hysterical. Remembering was too traumatic for her.

  But because of that, he thought Neal might be right. Maybe her behavior all stemmed from the murder. Maybe this latest memory loss was a symptom of something much more serious. This time she’d had a car crash after escaping her killer. She’d nearly died not once but twice this time.

  “All right,” he said. “I’ll go along with this as long as it is for observation. You run your tests. Then we’ll see.”

  “If I’m right and she has DID, it’s going to take intense treatment,” Neal said. “But at least this is a place to start,” he added quickly.

  Monica had been through so much. He thought of his promise to Horace and hoped he was doing this for the right reasons.

  * * *

  JOSLYN MET GARRETT’S bright blue eyes, her heart a thunder in her chest as they walked toward the elevators. She couldn’t believe what had just happened in that courtroom. Garrett had been so eloquent in his appeal to the judge that she hadn’t been surprised that bail had been set and she’d been released with the condition that she would stay at the Sterling’s Montana Guest Ranch under Garrett Sterling’s protection until the investigation was concluded.

  “You all right, Joslyn?” he asked as he pushed the down elevator button and looked over at her. It took all of her reserve not to react when he said the name Joslyn. She hadn’t heard it on his lips in so long. It sparked feelings she’d had to pack away back then, feelings she had made a point of not unpacking since. It had been too painful.

  She recalled how Garrett’s eyes lit up when he realized why she’d chosen to wear the coral dress first. His gaze, burning with accusation, had locked with hers. She’d had to drag her eyes away, determined not to let him get to her. Too much was at stake to let hurt feelings stop her now. Once they were alone...

  Still she couldn’t help being afraid. She knew she would have never come here unless...unless she’d had no other choice. So what had happened that she wasn’t just here, but that Garrett had saved her life? The sheriff kept saying he wanted her to remember. If only she could.

  All she knew was that she’d killed a man who’d apparently been planning to kill her. She was scared. She’d tried to remember. But some memories were locked in a deep dark hole. She knew that whatever was down there, it was far worse than this. And yet now she’d lost another chunk of her memory.

  That alone terrified her. Hadn’t she been warned that it could keep happening and it could have psychological consequences? The psychologist the sheriff had her see had tried to dig around in her memories, but nothing about what was going on now had come out.

  And yet she remembered Garrett and everything they’d shared in detail. How did she explain that? But Garrett was her secret. The one thing she’d hung on to all these months. And now, here he was and she was headed to the family guest ranch that she’d heard so much about but had never gotten the chance to see. Just the two of them. But only if they could get away before—she needed to get him alone even though that frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

  They stood waiting for the elevator, not looking at each other. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me, I’m just doing what anyone would do under the circumstances.”

  She knew the circumstances he was talking about but said nothing. She noticed that the sheriff had stopped to say something to one of the lawyers. She reminded herself that it was a small town, everyone knew everyone and his business. She willed the elevator to come, fighting to hide how nervous she was. She’d been here before. It was only a matter of time...

  When the sheriff had told her earlier that he’d sent her photo out over the wire in case her family or friends had reported her missing and that he should be hearing something soon, she’d barely been able to breathe. He said he’d also taken her DNA. It meant they would find out—if they didn’t already know. They would send someone to get her.

  “Are you all right?” Garrett asked.

  She nodded and smiled. But she wanted to take the stairs at a run. She couldn’t help feeling anxious. The sheriff was clearly worried about her safety, but he had no idea. He’d tried to talk her out of going with Garrett even though he’d said that the cowboy had
saved her life. Saved her life and then invited her to stay at the family guest ranch. No wonder he was suspicious.

  The elevator door opened. She let out the breath she’d been holding and stepped in quickly. Garrett turned to look back as if to see if the sheriff had planned to join them. She wanted to scream. But then he finally stepped in and the door closed. She tried to relax but it was impossible. The elevator began to move, finally. Until they reached the isolated guest ranch, she would stay on needles and pins. Even after that, she would be watching and waiting.

  In the confines of the elevator, she glanced over at Garrett. If anything he was more handsome. He appeared to be in even better shape than he’d been when he was attending law school at the university. He’d always been tall, broad-shouldered, slim at the hips, with those long legs. But now he looked more muscular, his skin tanned from the sun, his body hardened from physical labor.

  There were a few laugh lines around his blue eyes and just the hint of silver at his temples, giving her a glimpse of how he would look in old age. The realization was bitterly painful since she’d once dreamed of being around to see that happen.

  She wanted to reach out and cup his strong jaw. She ached to draw him to her, to kiss that mouth that she’d dreamed about for so long, to feel his arms around her again, holding her, promising that there was a chance for the two of them even when she knew there wasn’t.

  All her instincts told her that going with him was a mistake in so many ways. But as the sheriff had pointed out, her choices were limited and he didn’t know the half of it. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t made mistakes before. Certainly falling for Garrett had been her worst. That had almost gotten her killed. As it was, it had forced Joslyn Charles to die. And she’d always liked that name.